light-driven
|light-driv-en|
/ˈlaɪtˌdrɪvən/
powered or moved by light
Etymology
'light-driven' originates from modern English as a compound of the adjective 'light' and the past-participial adjective 'driven' (from the verb 'drive'), where 'light' meant 'visible radiant energy' and 'drive' meant 'to push or propel'.
'light' comes from Old English 'lēoht' meaning 'light, daylight' and developed into modern 'light'; 'drive' comes from Old English 'drīfan' (to drive), with past participle 'driven' used in compounds to indicate being propelled, leading to the compound 'light-driven' in Modern English.
Initially the components meant 'visible radiant energy' ('light') and 'to push/propel' ('drive'); combined in modern usage they specifically denote being powered, activated, or caused by light.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
powered or propelled by light (usually by absorption of photons); used for systems, reactions, or devices whose operation is driven by light energy.
A light-driven molecular motor rotates when illuminated.
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Adjective 2
activated or initiated by exposure to light (often used for photochemical or photophysical processes such as reactions, charge separation, or switching).
The experiment measured light-driven charge separation in the semiconductor film.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 19:25